Population-based laboratory surveillance of Hafnia alvei isolates in a large Canadian health region

2006

Study of Hafnia alvei Infections in Canada

Sample size: 138 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Laupland Kevin B, Church Deirdre L, Ross Terry, Pitout Johann DD

Primary Institution: University of Calgary and Calgary Health Region

What is the incidence and demographic risk factors for Hafnia alvei infections in a large Canadian health region?

Hafnia alvei was most commonly isolated as a mono-microbial etiology from the urinary tract in women from the community.

A total of 138 patients with Hafnia alvei isolates were identified.
Older age and female gender were important risk factors for acquisition.
The most common focus of isolation was urine in 112 (81%) of cases.
Most isolates were resistant to common antibiotics but none to imipenem or ciprofloxacin.
94 (68%) of isolates were mono-microbial.
Annual incidence of Hafnia alvei isolation was 2.1 per 100,000 population.
Females had a significantly higher isolation rate compared to males.
Community isolates accounted for 67% of cases.

This study found that a rare germ called Hafnia alvei mostly makes women sick from their urine, especially older women.

Population-based laboratory surveillance was conducted in the Calgary Health Region from 2000 to 2005.

Selection bias may have affected previous hospital-based studies, leading to misleading epidemiological data.

The study may have overestimated the incidence of disease due to potential inclusion of colonized patients and non-residents.

Median age of patients was 69 years, with 77% being female.

p<0.0001

95% CI, 2.20–5.07

p<0.0001

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